Mental health court turns woman's life around

7:49 AM,
Mar. 10, 2014

Evelyn Koehnke, 43, of Appleton, is the first graduate of Outagamie County's Mental Health Court. Following three prison sentences, Koehnke now is working and giving back by leading peer-to-peer groups for others suffering from mental illness.

Written by

Jim Collar
Post-Crescent Media

Evelyn Koenhke spent two stints in prison without thinking much about changing her ways. She never envisioned turning her life around after years of alcohol abuse.

But things changed after her third prison release in 2011. She was placed in Outagamie County's Mental Health Court. And something clicked. She learned that others care about her, and - little by little - she came to recognize that she did, too.